Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Cholesterol and the steroid hormones
part 1: structure and functions
- Basic steroid structure
- All steroid hormones based on the same 4 ring structure
- Cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene (C17)
- Fully saturated (no double bonds) C17 molecule
- Three six carbon rings (A, B, C) and one five carbon ring (D)
- Most natural steroids have 2 methyl (CH3) groups = C19 structure
- Numbering (CH3 groups: on
C13 = "C18" and C10 = "C19")
- 1
(A)
- 2
(A)
- 3
(A)
- 4
(A)
- 5
(A/B)
- 6
(B)
- 7
(B)
- 8
(B/C)
- 9
(B/C)
- 10
(A/B)
- 11
(C)
- 12
(C)
- 13
(C/D)
- 14
(C/D)
- 15
(D)
- 16
(D)
- 17
(D)
- This C19 steroid nucleus =
androstane (all steroids are
modified versions of this)
- Derived from cholesterol (from the
diet, stores or de novo synthesis)
- Steroid hormones (and vitamin D3)
- Vitamin D3
- Steroid derivative
- Formed by action of sunlight on skin
- UV radiation causes the B-ring of 7-dehydrocholesterol to open
- = cholecalciferol
- Undergoes first hydroxylation in the liver at C25
- Second hydroxylation in the kidney at C1
= 1, 25 dihydroxycholecalciferol
- (Active vitamin D3)
- Acts on the vitamin D receptor (intracellular)
- Receptor forms transcription complex and
plays a major role in calcium metabolism
- Progestogens (C21)
- e.g. progesterone
- feature characteristic D-ring
- Has a ketone group [C(=O)CH3] attached at C17
- Receptor: Progesterone receptor (PR)
- Function: During the menstrual cycle
and the maintenance of pregnancy
- Produced by: developing follicle and corpus luteum (ovary)
- Glucocorticoids (C21)
- e.g. cortisol (humans); corticosterone (rodents) - parallel
synthesis and difference of x1 OH group at C17
- Receptor: glucocorticoid receptor (GR)
- Function: Stress adaption
- Secreted by: adrenal cortex (zona fasciculata)
- Mineralocorticoids (C21)
- e.g. main one = aldosterone
- Receptor: mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)
- Function: promote Na+ reabsorption in distal
convuluted tubule (DCT) in the kidneys
- increases blood volume and pressure
- Secreted by: adrenal cortex (zona glomerulosa)
and in a small quantity by cadiac myocytes
- Androgens (C19)
- e.g.
...
- Testosterone - main male sex hormone
- Adrostenedione - features two ketone groups at C3 and C17
- Dihydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) - most produced steroid hormone
- Male sex hormones
- Lack side chains at C17
- Receptor: androgen receptor (AR)
- Function: male sex hormones - sexual differntiation
(in utero), development of sex characteristics at
puberty, libido, increased muscle and bone mass
- Secreted by: leydig cells (testes) - primary source; and
adrenal cortex (zona reticularis) - weak androgens, e.g. DHEA
- Oestrogens (C18)
- Characterised by an aromatic, phenolic A ring (alternating
double, single C-bonds - with an -OH group at C3)
- e.g.
...
- Oestradiol - two -OH groups (C3 and C17)
- Oestrone - features a ketone group at C17
- Oestriol - three -OH groups (C3, C16 and C17)
- Receptor: Oestrogen receptor (ER)
- Function: Menstrual cycle (uterine development) and
development of female secondary sex characteristics
- Secreted by: ovaries and adipose tissue
- Principle female sex hormones
- Oestrogen-like (oestrogenic) compounds
- ellicit response at ER, but not necessarily ture oestrogens
- Can be used as alternative therapies (e.g. phyto-oestrogens) in menopause
- Medical use:
- DES (diethylstilbestrol) - in advanced
prostate cancer and breast cancer
(in postmenopausal women)
- SERMS (selective ER modulators) - tissue
selective (e.g. tamoxifen (Br ca), raloxifene
(OP, Br ca) and femarelle (menopause))
- Used in:
osteoporosis, breast
cancer, menopause
- Problems: Can contaminate the environment
and result in adverse effects in nature
- e.g. oestrogenic compounds from industrial
compounds (dicofol or DDT -> DDE when metabolised)
- DDE is oestrogenic
- e.g. alligators in lake Apopka (reduced fertility,
fewer hatching eggs, small peninses and
dysfunctional reproductive organs in the young
- In humans?
- Some evidence of increased
incidence of problems with male
fertility and in utero development....
- Falling sperm count
- Increased numbers of; hypospadias
(underdeveloped penis - urethra
opening along the length of the
penis) and cryptorchidism
(undescended testes)